You throw the ball. You catch the ball. You hit the ball…Of course, baseball fans know that this line from Bull Durham is far from true, part of the humor of the movie and a huge part of the fun of the game. This blog is a space to talk about baseball, being a baseball fan, all of those things that make the game fun and the Angels, because they make baseball fun for me.

Who Needs Roses? Pitchers and Catchers Report!

Angels pitchers and catchers reported for Spring Training today!!! They have their first warm-up tomorrow, along with 11 other teams in the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues. The hint of baseball is in the air again! And, really, could anyone ask for a better Valentine than that? I’m not really a Valentine’s Day kind of girl but, with the moved-up Spring Training schedule adding new meaning to the date, I might come to appreciate it after all!
Suddenly baseball articles are dominating the L.A. Times and the O.C. Register again, spring training games begin in a matter of weeks, Opening Day doesn’t seem quite so far away and all is right with world…okay, all is far from right with the world, but it’s just that much closer to right and I will take what I can get.

According to tweets from the first day back (that I read on Halos Heaven…I don’t have a Twitter account) catcher Bobby Wilson worked out like a man on a mission this offseason and lost 34 pounds. I think this is exciting. He caught a few really good games last season and has a strong but inconsistent bat. If he’s trying for a Nick Swisher like transformation in 2011, I am all for it. Based on last year’s performances, all three candidates for catcher have different important components of the necessary skill set for the position. Competition for the catcher’s position, spurring each player to improve areas of weakness, can only be a good thing for the team right now.

The L.A. Times blog reported that Jered Weaver arrived at Spring Training with a great attitude, has no hard feelings after the arbitration hearing and says he would still love to play for the Angels for a long time. Granted, this is the kind of thing a good sport is supposed to say when things don’t go their way regardless of actual feelings on the matter, but I am choosing to take these comments at face value. The same article reported that long term contract discussions with Weaver have halted until next winter. I actually like this. Once Spring Training starts, I want everyone concentrating on 2011 and not worrying about 2012 contacts and beyond.

Suffice to say, the L.A. Times made me a lot happier than reading the O.C. Register’s Blog Post “Arbitration Loses Usually Lead to Divorce“ did. Apparently if you look back at the last five years, only Mariano Rivera and Wandy Rodriguez have remained with the team they lost to in arbitration once they reached free agency eligibility. Ouch. Oh…yeah…but…well…in the immortal words of the great Charlie Brown, tell your statistics to shut up! All jokes aside, it was a good blog post and I’m aware that the arbitration decision doesn’t make for a great situation, but I’m just not going to spend all season worrying about it. Future Blithescribe can worry about Weaver’s contract and Kendry Morales’ too next winter.

Looking at the amount of Spring Training news posted on the blogs from journalists’ and players’ twitter accounts, I think I may need to finally break down and get a twitter account. I have avoided it for the longest time because most of the tweets I see auto-posted to FaceBook and Livejournal aren’t interesting to me. I know that eventually someone is going to ask me to work with Twitter in a professional capacity – I switch hats between communications, marketing, PR and fundraising, but I’m basically a corporate writer/communications specialist – so I should probably dive in and get used to the ins and outs of it on my own, but I’ve been dragging my feet. If there’s fun baseball information on Twitter, however, maybe that’s just the prod I need to join.

In the mean time, it’s finally Spring Training!!! And I am in such a bouncy, giddy good mood, it isn’t even funny. I hope the coming days find all of you in the same state of mind. :)

14 Comments

Russel – Nope, I think maybe I was just confusing in my wording. Weaver is saying he’s not peeved about the arbitration, but no long term deal has been made…or was I confusing about something else? Always a possibility :)
Kristenhttp://blithescribe.mlblogs.com/

I used to be a Valentines guy until this year…long story. Glad Spring Training is upon us, though. You’ll probably get a good look at Trout in the exhibition games, too. He’s the number one prospect in baseball now. Have fun.
–Mikehttp://burrilltalksbaseball.mlblogs.com

Jane – Best. Double header. Ever…or at least recently!
Mike – I am sorry to hear that – it doesn’t sound like a happy story. I am really excited to see Trout play. We’re definitely going to the exhibition game with the Padres at the Big A and maybe to the Freeway exhibition game at Dodger stadium too, so we’ll probably get to see him in action.
Jeff – LOL, baseball makes it all okay, even candy hearts.
Peter – I hope so! Thanks. Yeah, if I go on twitter I’ll use the blithescribe name or something like that so the professional and personal streams never cross. I never write anything an employer couldn’t see, but it’s always a good idea to keep personal and professional separate.
Kristenhttp://blithescribe.mlblogs.com/

Bobby Wilson and his dad were at the Toby Hall golf tourney. I actually did not recognize him until he told me his name on the putting green.
But that is what knowing you got a shot to “man-up” and claim a position can do to you. Knowing Mike Napoli was gone, it is Wilson’s time to put it to the floor and cement himself a bit in the primary catcher’s spot.
Love the Valentine’s Day candies….I want the one that says “Grand Slam”. I will send that to Matt Joyce who hit 2 in 2010….Ahhh past memories!

I created a twitter account, but never use it. I too am also thinking about using it though……if I can remember my password, lol. Anyway, I love the heart shaped candies. That was a good touch to this post!

Rays Renegade – That’s right, I forgot Bobby Wilson is a Florida guy. He’s sure got an opportunity in front of him and if he earns the spot, well, I for one would love to see him behind the plate. Glad you like the candies. There is an Acme Candy Heart image generator online if you want to make some.
Ron – Thanks! I’m glad people liked them.
Mike – Yeah, I don’t like arbitration much either. The long term repercussions make me nervous no matter who “wins”. Thanks for the poem…I think, LOL. You sound as enthusiastic as V-Day at my house. Neither my husband nor I are into it at all, silly Hallmark holiday. We ordered cheesesteak in and watched Top Shot. :)
Emma – Thank you, nice lady! Happy Valentine’s Day to you too. I’m glad you’re having a good time with the caravan. I’m sure it was fantastic seeing the boys this early and I can’t wait to read your post about it.
Kristenhttp://blithescribe.mlblogs.com/

Yes, spring training is here! I put on SportsCenter this morning and was ecstatic to see actual PLAYERS on the screen, not highlight reels from last season. I think you should get a Twitter account. I have one, but I never tweet from it. I just like seeing what Ozzie Guillen and Mark Teahen have to say :)
Catherinehttp://chisoxblog.mlblogs.com/

Catherine – Actual player interviews! Isn’t it wonderful! Yeah, I will probably not tweet very often if I do get one either. At the moment I am more interested in reading tweets.
KristenThis is a very Simple Game…

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